Will you please tell me and my CurveInspire readers your name, troupe or city you work in, and facebook or web link?

My name is Esmerelda Athena May, I’m a core member of Geek Girl Productions, and of Cosplay Burlesque, I am also a guest performer with the White Elephant burlesque Society. I also perform in the NY/NJ/PA area as a solo performer. You can find me on the following links.
http://geekgirlpro.com/public/performers.php
http://cosplayburlesque.com/cast.html#
http://www.facebook.com/esmereldamay
http://www.youtube.com/user/EsmereldaMay?feature=guide

How long have you been a burlesque performer?
I have been a performer for just over 3 years now.

What got you into the world of burlesque?
One of my good friends was looking into getting into burlesque, Scarlet Stepford, and after going to a show to see what it was about, I knew I needed to do that, and I knew it would be something I would absolutely love doing -and I was right! I started off as a solo performer before reaching out to troops. It’s so much fun, and a lot of work what with costuming and choreographing but it is rewarding.

How did having curves affect you growing up?
Having curves affected my growing up in many ways. I was always called the fat kid, and physically and emotionally abused about my weight and the fact that I was a geek. So according to my classmates I fit the geek stereotype, and was therefore an easy target to everyday torment. It all made me self conscious and gave me low self esteem. I went through many diets growing up, lots of physical activity, and yes I could have lost a few pounds for my own health, sports, especially Martial Arts, and eating right helped me get into shape. However, even after this I was still picked on for being bigger than the other smaller girls, It made high school rough, but I knew I’d never be skinny and I discovered that I was ok with that .I’ve been working on keeping my self esteem up ever since graduating. It’s an everyday struggle, but I learned to accept my body and now I love it.

How did you accept your curves?
I’ve always been curvy, and I accepted I would never be thing so one day I looked in the mirror and listed some great things about my body, like how i’m proportionate, and I actually really love my huge butt and smaller waist. I have an hourglass figure, and as I got older I began to realize that lots of people loved my curves, women even came up to me and told e they were jealous of my curves. At first this was a shock to me, how could they want my body? But then I realized many woman are shaped like me, and if they can embrace it and be sexy and proud, then so could I.

How do your curves help you in your career?
Having curves in burlesque definitely gives you a perk. Burlesque has helped increase my self esteem because it accepts all bodies and glorifies the body no matter what they look like or what size they are. It really makes you feel sexy and proud, which I feel every girl should be in her everyday life. All bodies are beautiful and curves are as well, burlesque is just one of the many ways to show that a woman doesn’t have to be skinny and small to be beautiful, and every woman should feel sexy and love their bodies.